KCRW’s October SMC Intern of the Month!

From Monika Scott, Associate Volunteer Coordinator, who adores Jonny to the core!:

Have you ever worked with someone that made you forget you were working at all? Jonny is that person for us. He is friendly, warm-hearted, and is always keeping everyone around him laughing. There are some people who, when you walk into a room and see them there, you just feel comforted by their very presence. I am lucky to call Jonny a colleague and a friend, as is anyone who knows him!

Where did you grow up and are you an only child?

My older brother and I were born and raised in Los Angeles – the San Fernando Valley to be specific. I’ve lived in the same 6 mile radius of the hospital I was born at my entire life, so the South-East area of the SFV is and has always been my stomping grounds…and trust me I can’t wait to move.

What is your current occupation?

I work retail management, DJ around town, make music, and help out as much as possible at the station.

What is your fantasy occupation?

To have a residency at Panorama Bar in Berlin. Talk about fantasies…

When did you first discover KCRW?

I remember getting a call from my brother that went a little something like “YO, TURN ON YOUR RADIO TO 89.9!! THEY’RE PLAYING HOUSE MUSIC.” The date was Friday, September 05, 2008 (date found after doing an extensive search on the playlists), and the sound was the streamlined, electronic pulse of music chosen by Jason Bentley for his now resurrected program, “Metropolis”. I was hooked, instantly. I definitely credit Mario and Jason for tailoring my taste of fine electronic music into what I now love and live by. Who knows where I would’ve ended up without them….

How did you find your way to our station for volunteering?

My story is a little weird and long but I’ll trim it down a little. In 2010 I was working my first job parking cars for a valet company and was offered the opportunity to work a NYE event at the Viceroy Hotel. I knew the event was a KCRW NYE party so I immediately took it, not caring about any other parties or celebrations. I don’t even know what I was thinking, but I just wanted to put a face to someone from the station and find a way to get in there and help out. Long story short, the last car I ended up grabbing for the night at 3 AM was Jason Bentley’s [no it wasn’t a Bentley 🙁 ] and he pretty much told me to email a woman named Connie Alvarez. Now here I sit, 3 years later, emailing Connie Alvarez my response to this question.

What’s your current volunteer position and how long have you been at it?

I don’t know if my position has a title cause I do a few different things, but currently I work as production assistant for Mario and Aaron B. Sometimes Valida if I feel like pulling the midnight – 6am shift. I also sort out Jason’s mail for the week every Wednesday and help out with Malcolm music submissions. Fun stuff is what I call my position.

This is the hardest question you can ask a me, so I’ll cheat and give you a mix. I’ve been following the legendary BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix for as long as I can remember and I can’t stop playing this one. Dixon’s essential mix is 2 hours of primarily unreleased material from his amazing Berlin based label, Innervisions. The mix is inspiring, uplifting, melancholic, and is probably my favorite Essential Mix to date. This man, is THE MAN. Check it out HERE!

Favorite book, movie?

I really don’t read as much as I should, but for some reason 1984 has always held a great place in my heart. I feel that book will forever be relevant. My favorite movie is an anime movie called Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. It’s always been my top choice since I was about 10, and every few years I re-watch it, I wind up learning something new that didn’t make sense to me when I was younger. That kind of thing fascinates me.

Favorite thing to do outside the station?

There’s no better therapy than the record store. Seriously. Especially when you’ve got Amoeba and Mount Analog. I also love Basketball too, I play at my old middle school every Monday and Thursday.

What does KCRW mean to you?

A whole lot, wow. I credit part of who I am today to this station, and am forever grateful to be a part of it. I leave those doors every time having learned something new, and have met some really amazing people and friends along the way. It’s crazy to see so many people come together and do what they love to make this thing work the way it does. Magic, I say!

Thank YOU Jonny. We are who we are because of people like you who are willing to come down here with us and give us your valuable time and energy. You’re such a gift to be around. I can only wish everyone gets a Jonny in their lives!